Iran’s strategic position and emerging Asian Century
At the end of the 20th century, the unipolar world and the Western international system underwent extensive changes; changes that led to the decline of the West and the rise of Asia. The 21st century, or more aptly, the Asian Century, marks a shift in global power from the West to the East. Moreover, with the beginning of this century, we are witnessing the gradual rise of East Asia’s economic power worldwide.
This gradual rise in economic power in East Asia as a new production hub presents new opportunities for Iran. Considering that in August 2018, Iran signed the document of accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) in Singapore, the country can secure a significant share of this change in the center of power and seize a significant portion of this emerging power with the help of its economic drivers and industries.
The geopolitical and strategic position of Iran in the region, coupled with its accession to ASEAN’s TAC in Singapore, involving influential East Asian countries such as the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Cambodia, renders Iran as a key player in this changing landscape.
Iran, with its significant potential in various areas, including access to the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf, valuable oil and gas reserves, and advancements in technology, especially in the past decade, must leverage these assets. Establishing constructive and multi-faceted interactions could help overcome the weaknesses and setbacks of recent years, enabling Iran to attain the level of the ASEAN economic bloc.
According to international relations experts, Iran needs to revive its lost position in communication corridors, acting as a crucial bridge between the markets of East Asia and the West. In recent decades, East Asia has successfully positioned itself as a primary rival to the United States and prominent Western powers through long-term strategic planning.
This strategic planning and proper management have led Asian countries not to be dependent, weak, and passive players in the international arena anymore. Instead, gradually, these countries have transformed into executors who, with independent actions, claim leadership ahead of dominant power-seeking states.
Iranian Entrepreneurs Association